Flume construction



May 11 1926. 1,584,290

R. HARDESTY mums CONSTRUCTION Filed April 11, 1925 INVENTOR. Budd 67? A TTORNE Y.

Patented Ill lay ll, i926,

unrrsn srnrss RUDD HARDESTY, 0F DENVER, COLORADO.

FL'U'ME CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed April 11, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in s ctional sheet metal iiunies and more particu arly in tlumes ot the type in Which wooden cross beams are provided as a supporting means for the fiume proper.

It is an object of the invention to provide in a flume structure of the above described character, firm and unyielding abutments for the nuts included in the'means by which the flume issuspended from the cross beams, for the main purpose or eliminating the adjustment of the nuts otherwise frequently required by contraction, decomposition or disruption of the wooden beams.

A further object of the invention consists in providing a novel method of connecting the flume to the cross beams to provide clearance for rubbish carried with the water in the fiume, and still other objects reside in details of construction and in the arrange ment and combinations of parts hereinafter to be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings in the several views of which like parts are similarly designated,

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of a fiume constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2, a much enlarged transverse section through the flume taken in the plane indicated by the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3, a further enlarged section of a terminal portion of the improved means by which, according to my invention, the flumc is connected to each of the supporting cross beams;

Figure 4, an enlarged section taken on the line 4- l, Figure 2;

Figure 5, a cross section along the line 5-5, Figure 2 Figure 6, a perspective view of one of the wedging shoes included in the connecting means hcreinabove referred to; and

Figure 7, a section similar to that of F igure 3 showing a modification of the abutment-member included in the construction.

Referring more specifically to the drawiugs the flume proper is composed of a plurality of longitudinally alined sections 5 which overlap at their adjoining ends.

The ends of the sections are correspondingly beaded as best shown in Figure 1 to co-operate with the means by which the flume is suspended from the cross-beams to secure the sections in water-tight contact with each other.

Serial No. 22,319.

USLWGQH the sections e at the ins dc oi the fiume and has its ends locked under beveled lips 9 of wcdging shoes 10 mounted on the rod below its threaded extremities.

I The ends of the rods pass through vertical bores in wooden cross beams 12 from which the flume is suspended, thebores being in accordance with the invention, bushed with metal abutment sleeves 13 which engage the upper surfaces of the shoes.

The rods pass loosely through the sleeves 13 and washers 1d of larger diameter engaging at the upper ends of the same provide bearings for the nuts screwed upon the threaded extremities oi the rods.

vVfith the parts thus assembled the nuts when tightened upon the washers will draw the rod 6 tightly against the overlapping ends of the flume sections while the bevel bar 8 is forced inwardly against the beads of the sections by the wedging effect of its contact with the beveled lips 9 of the shoes 10.

By further manipulation of the nuts the rods are forced to indent the beads of the sheet metal as shown in Figure 5, and the various members oi the connections: thus cooperate to produce water-tight joints between the sections of the flume.

The shoes 10 have at the outside of the rod downwardly extended tongues 15 which by engagement with the rod prevent their being canted and wedged upon the same when the nuts are screwed home upon the washers.

The washers projecting circumferentially of the upper end of the abutment members, provide flanges which by engagement with the cross beams support the flume, and it is to be understood that the same result may be attained by providing the abutment members with integral heads or flanges 16 as indicated in Figure 7.

It will be evident that the nuts once tightcned a ainst the abutment member will hold them rigidly in fixed relation to the domebody with the result that in case of shrinkage or decomposition of the wooden cross beams, the entire flame-structure may adjust itself relatively without the necessity of tightening the nuts as is frequently required in the maintenance of flumes in which the washers bear solely on the upper surface of the beams.

The provision of the abutment-sleeves has the added advantage that by extending them below the beams as illustrated in the drawings, a space is formed between the top of the :[iuine and the supporting structure, which prevents clogging of the flume and consequent obstruction of the flow of water by rubbish lodging against the beams.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the character de scribed, the combination with a flume and beams having openings for the support thereof, of bushings in the openings, flumesupporting rods extending through the bushings, Hume-securing shoes on the rods, engaging the lower ends of the bushings, flange-members at the upper ends of the bushings, resting on the beams, and nuts on the rods, bearing upon the bushings.

2.111 a structure of the character described, the combination with a flume and beams having openings for the support thereof, of bushings in the openings, projecting below the beams, Hume-supporting rods extending through the bushings, fiumesecuring shoes on the rods, engaging the lower ends of the bushings, flange-members at the upper ends of the bushings, resting on the beams, and nuts on the rods, bearing upon the upper ends of the bushings.

3. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a flame and beams having openings for the support thereof, of bushings in the openings, fiumesupporting rods extending through the bushings, tlume-securing shoes on the rods, engaging the lower ends of the bushings, washers on the rods above the bushings, resting on the beams, and nuts on the rods bearing upon the washers.

4:. in a structure of the character described, the combination with a fiume, of a supporting beam of decomposable material, provided with openings for the support of a tlume, bushings in the openings, flume supporting rods extending through the bushings, flume securing shoes on the rods, engaging the lower ends of the bushings below the beam, flange members at the upper ends of the bushings resting on the beams, and nuts on the rods bearing on the flange members.

5. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a sectional flume, of a supporting beam provided with openings for the support of the fiume, bushings in the openings, means for securing the joints between the sections of the flume, including rods extending through the bushings, fiume securing shoes on the rods en the lower ends oi the bushings below the beam, flange members at the upper ends of the bushings resting on the beam, and nuts on the rods bearing on the flange memhers.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

RUDD HARDESTY. 

